Resolve to shun the killer habit!

We note that there is a concerted effort by the UK government to try and discourage smokers and save them from this dreadful habit.

A tumor growing from a cigarette will be the first image of a hard-hitting government campaign launched to highlight the dangers of smoking. The advertisements, which will appear on television, online and on billboards for nine weeks, will carry a message from the Department of Health (DoH) just 15 cigarettes can cause a mutation that can lead to cancerous tumors.

There was a campaign before by the DoH to use graphic imagery in the fight against smoking since its ‘fatty cigarette’ adverts of 2004, which showed smokers inhaling from cigarettes dripping with fat, and graphically represented fatty deposits oozing in their arteries. These new adverts follow several years in which a softer approach has apparently failed to convince people to quit. Survey has established that one in two smokers die from smoking, mostly from cancer.

While developed countries spend millions in campaigns to educate the people of the harmful results in smoking cigarettes industries spend billions each year on advertising and on promotion of cigarette. Analysts say in 2010 alone the industries spent US $ 8.05 billion on advertising.

There is another interesting survey taken sometimes ago of per capita consumption of cigarettes per adult per year; in this, the economically troubled Greece is occupying the pride of place with 3017 while Ethiopia, in the African continent is at the rock bottom with just 52. Congratulations Ethiopia!

Now you may be anxious to know where we are, Sri Lanka is 106th with a figure of 205.This shows that we are puffing away more than our immediate neighbor India, which is placed 116th with a figure of 99.

Dr. Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research, UK, says that we have got to reduce the impact that tobacco has on the lives of far too many people. It is not a lifestyle choice; it is an addiction that creeps into people’s lives and results in death and disease. The good news is that approximately 69% of smokers want to quit smoking in the US alone compared to the 52% in 2010.

Remember that the United States is a country with advanced cancer treatment facilities. Let us see how many would resolve to quit smoking in the New Year? We wish all Asian Tribune readers a very happy and healthy New Year!